Free NFL Picks Detroit Lions at New York Giants 10-17-2010

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Detroit Lions at New York Giants

Sunday October 17th, 2010 1:00 PM EST

Line: New York -10

Overview:

The 3-2 Giants take on the 1-4 Lions, who are coming off their biggest franchise win in recent memory. It is clear that the Lions have improved on both sides of the ball. No longer are they the laughing stock of the league. The Lions may be 1-4, but they are playing better than their record indicates. The Giants have reestablished order in their locker room. They look like the Giants that came away with a Super Bowl not too long ago. Scary, if you are Shaun Hill.

Keys to the Game:

The Lions can’t be cocky. It sounds laughable, but the Lions haven’t won by 38 since they beat the Jaguars 44-0 in 1995. The Lions need to collect themselves. This was a great team win. It is important they don’t get overly confident. After all, the Rams are not the Giants. The Lions have put up big points a few times already this year. The difference last week was their defense. If the Lions can harness their momentum and carry it into this week, they will be competitive. If not, their victory last week will appear to be an aberration.

The Giants are going to terrorize the Lions this week. Everyone is familiar with the Giants front four. The reason they were able to knock off the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl was because they gave Tom Brady no time to throw and blitzed no one. Every member of their defensive line has a nose for the quarterback. If you watched the Giants play the Bears, you know exactly what kind of affect the defensive line can have on teams. They knocked out not just one, but two quarterbacks in their ten sack performance against Chicago. After struggling mightily prior to the Chicago game, they followed up their victory with a huge win over the Texans. Osi Umenyiora contributed two sacks in their outing against Houston. It is difficult to pick one member of the defensive line to double team, as that will free up another member of the d-line to make a play. The Giants take advantage of one on one blocking. Their front four are leading their team back to where it needs to be.

Hakeem Nicks has posted back to back 100 yard games. Eli Manning is hitting him on all sorts different looks. Back shoulder throws, slants, screens, you name the route, Nicks is running on it. Manning has a sure handed receiving threat for the first time since Plaxico Burress was on the team. Nicks breaks for a long gainer every once in a while, but what is more impressive is that he had twelve catches in his last outing. A level of trust is developing between Manning and Nicks. This is great for the Giants offense, who needs to rely on their passing attack more of late.

Shaun Hill has thrown one less touchdown than Drew Brees this season, but his turnovers make that irrelevant. He has thrown picks in the crucial minutes of the game that could spell victory or defeat for the Lions. It seems as though he has complete control of the huddle. Hill is a leader, even though his athletic ability is lacking. He wants to win and that earns respect in the locker room. He is taking more chances this year than he has in the past, which accounts for his turnovers. When you have a big time receiver like Calvin Johnson, sometimes it is easier to pull the trigger. Hill needs to play a bit more conservatively. Even though it is completely acceptable to let your receiver go up and make a play, as Johnson has done many times this year, sometimes checking it down is better given the circumstances. The Lions have lost three of their four games by five points or less. They need Hill to be the difference maker while Matthew Stafford is out.

Wrap Up:

I like the Lions this season. They have new talent in the backfield in Jahvid Best. They have an improved defense and a new swagger. The Giants are on a tear. It seems as though they would take on anyone right now. The just blew out the undefeated Bears and a Texans team who beat the Colts earlier this year. The Giants are for real. -10 for real.